22 December 2010

Remarks made by President Obama at this morning's signing ceremony of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act of 2010, emailed by the White House Press Office to R20:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: You rock, President Obama!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Laughter.)

You know, I am just overwhelmed. This is a very good day. (Applause.) And I want to thank all of you, especially the people on this stage, but each and every one of you who have been working so hard on this, members of my staff who worked so hard on this. I couldn’t be prouder.

Sixty-six years ago, in the dense, snow-covered forests of Western Europe, Allied Forces were beating back a massive assault in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. And in the final days of fighting, a regiment in the 80th Division of Patton’s Third Army came under fire. The men were traveling along a narrow trail. They were exposed and they were vulnerable. Hundreds of soldiers were cut down by the enemy.

And during the firefight, a private named Lloyd Corwin tumbled 40 feet down the deep side of a ravine. And dazed and trapped, he was as good as dead. But one soldier, a friend, turned back. And with shells landing around him, amid smoke and chaos and the screams of wounded men, this soldier, this friend, scaled down the icy slope, risking his own life to bring Private Corwin to safer ground.

For the rest of his years, Lloyd credited this soldier, this friend, named Andy Lee, with saving his life, knowing he would never have made it out alone. It was a full four decades after the war, when the two friends reunited in their golden years, that Lloyd learned that the man who saved his life, his friend Andy, was gay. He had no idea. And he didn’t much care. Lloyd knew what mattered. He knew what had kept him alive; what made it possible for him to come home and start a family and live the rest of his life. It was his friend.

And Lloyd’s son is with us today. And he knew that valor and sacrifice are no more limited by sexual orientation than they are by race or by gender or by religion or by creed; that what made it possible for him to survive the battlefields of Europe is the reason that we are here today. (Applause.) That's the reason we are here today. (Applause.)

So this morning, I am proud to sign a law that will bring an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” (Applause.) It is a law -- this law I’m about to sign will strengthen our national security and uphold the ideals that our fighting men and women risk their lives to defend.

No longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans who were forced to leave the military -– regardless of their skills, no matter their bravery or their zeal, no matter their years of exemplary performance -– because they happen to be gay. No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder, in order to serve the country that they love. (Applause.)

As Admiral Mike Mullen has said, “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.” (Applause.)

That’s why I believe this is the right thing to do for our military. That’s why I believe it is the right thing to do, period.

McConnell attempted to add an amendment to the so-called stripped-down defense authorization bill that would have required the consent of the military service chiefs to proceed with "don't ask" repeal. Under legislation passed by the Senate last week, certifications are required from the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. All the incumbents in those positions support repeal.

"It was a McConnell proposal," a GOP aide confirmed. "There was an attempted to get unanimous consent for it to be included in the defense bill and someone objected." McConnell's amendment, which Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and other GOP senators have been urging for months, called for certifications from the four service chiefs. All of the incumbents in those positions have expressed at least some reservations about repeal at this time.

Repeal advocates have long viewed such an amendment as a poison pill. Presumably, this is what prompted Lieberman's objection. ... Of course, any such amendment, or even the prospect of it, could be seen as an effort to upstage President Barack Obama as he prepares to sign the conditional repeal bill into law on Wednesday morning.

Bitter to the very end.

More on McConnell's cowardly, late-night parliamentary antics at The Caucus ...

"No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie or look over their shoulder," Mr. Obama said during a signing ceremony in a packed auditorium at the Interior Department here. Quoting the chairman of his joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, Mr. Obama went on, "Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well."

For Mr. Obama, the ceremony — held at the Interior Department because the White House is tied up with holiday tours — marked yet another in a string of last-minute, bipartisan legislative triumphs, a surprising turnaround in the wake of the self-described “shellacking” his party took at the polls last month. ... For the gay rights movement, which has been frustrated with the pace of progress under Mr. Obama, Wednesday marked a celebratory turning point. “Thank you, Mr. President,” someone shouted, as Mr. Obama took the stage, prompting a round of other shouts: “Chicago’s in the house, Mr. President! You rock, Mr. President!” Mr. Obama pronounced himself overwhelmed.

The President is seen speaking to former Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first Marine injured in Iraq.

The White House invited Rod 2.0 and a number of bloggers and activists to the historic event. Given plans and the timing, we weren't able to fly to D.C. last night, but are proud and honored the White House reached out to so many people. The complete video, WHEN YOU JUMP ...

18 December 2010

Amazing. In an historic moment, the Senate has voted 63-33 for cloture on the stand-alone bill to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The cloture vote clears the largest conressional hurdle to repeal the 17-year-old ban on gays and lesbians openly serving in the military. At least six Republicans supported the vote.

This bill was introducted by Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman after two unsuccessful attempts by the Senate to include DADT repeal as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure is identical to the House bill that passed Wednesday by a 250-175 vote.

Voting for cloture means only 30 hours of debate remain before a final vote. Sixty votes were needed.

In the Democratic caucus, all members present voted for cloture but newly-elected Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) did not vote. On December 9, Manchin was the only Democrat to support the Republican filibuster of the National Defense Authorization Act, the original vehicle for DADT repeal.

17 December 2010

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed cloture on the new stand-alone "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal legislation which is likely to see a vote as early as Saturday morning.

"The procedural vote is set for Saturday, along with one on a bill to legalize some children of illegal immigrants who enlist in the military or in college, known as the DREAM Act. Democrats appear short of the 60 votes needed to break a GOP-led filibuster on the immigration measure. ... It remains to be seen whether Republicans will agree to back a repeal of the policy — which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military — now if Reid does not allow them time for amendments."

The stand-alone measure is identical to the House bill that passed Wednesday by a 250-175 vote. This after two unsuccessful attempts by the Senate to include DADT repeal as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), the sponsor of the Senate bill, tells the Washington Blade he has the votes to finally end the failed 17-year-old policy. "I am confident that we have more than 60 votes to end this law that discriminates against military service members based solely on their sexual orientation," said Lieberman. "Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will affirm the Senate’s commitment to the civil rights of all Americans and also make our military even stronger."

"Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) are cosponsoring the measure and other senators are expected to sign on throughout the day, according to Senate aides not authorized to speak on the record," reports the Washington Post.

19 November 2010

There has been significant movement on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the past two days. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said he was "committed" to scheduling a floor vote during the lame duck session on the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal language. And last night, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) announced there were 60 votes to move forward with the NDAA and repeal, reports Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade.

“I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the defense authorization bill with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ if only there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process,” Lieberman said during a news conference. “In other words, whether we’ll take enough time to do it.”

The legislation would likely come up after Dec. 1, when a Pentagon working group is due to deliver a report to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on implementing repeal. Lieberman said he’s received assurances from GOP senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) as well as “others privately” that they would be open to moving forward with defense legislation containing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal provided there’s an “open amendment process” in bringing the bill to the floor.

A previous attempt in September at bringing the defense authorization bill to the floor failed when a united GOP caucus — led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — successfully filibustered the motion to proceed. Many senators, including Collins and Lugar, who supported a repeal amendment in committee, said they were voting “no” because of limited amendments that senators would be allowed to submit for the legislation.

Several other Senate Republicans are also amenable to repeal. Social conservative John Ensign of Nevada said he supports repeal "and is prepared to vote for cloture on the Defense bill after the Pentagon's study is released," reports the Blade. Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, who this week became the first Senate candidate in more than 50 years to win a write-in campaign, has changed her previous position and now says she would "not vote against a bill that had that repeal in it."

But what exactly would be a "more open amendment process", asks AMERICABlog's Joe Sudbay. "The Senate Republican leaders have already made their decision—they will filibuster the Defense bill over DADT. Will Collins, Lugar and the other allegedly pro-repeal GOPers cave, like they usually do, but offer some lame-ass procedural excuse?"

27 May 2010

By a 16-12 vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee has approved the Levin-Lieberman Amendment. The amendment begins the process of dismantling the 17-year-old "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits gays and serving openly in the military. This is the first time Congress has ever attempted to repeal the ban in its nearly 17 year history.

The language was submitted by SASC Chairman Carl Levin (MI) and Joseph Lieberman (CT) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure allows Congress to vote now to repeal the current law, but, actual implementation begins after completion of the Pentagon Working Group study due December 1 and upon certification. Since the amendment has passed committee, it would require 60 votes to strip repeal from the bill during the floor debate. Background HERE and HERE.

Susan Collins of Maine was the sole Republican on the panel to approve the measure. Virginia's Jim Webb was the only Democrat to vote against it. The vote was held in closed session. Fifteen votes were needed for passage.

Rep. Patrick Murphy will offer similar language as an amendment to the NDAA on the House floor later tonight or tomorrow. Murphy and Speaker Nancy Pelosi expect the amendment to pass.

26 May 2010

Sen. Senator Robert Byrd, the last undecided vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee, says he will vote YES vote for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal compromise. But ...

The conservative West Virginia Democrat wants to include a 60-day congressional review period, reports Think Progress. "This period of time will allow the Congress, along with the American
people, to thoroughly review the proposed policy recommendations," says the senator. "To
ensure that these changes are consistent with the standards of military
readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and
retention for our Armed Forces."

"The new language will presumably send the issue back to Congress even
after the results of the Defense Department review are certified by
President Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs
Chairman Mike Mullen. The full compromise now looks something like this:
1) Congress passes repeal as an attachment to the defense authorization
bill, 2) once the study is completed on December 1, officials will
certify that it does not undermine military effectiveness 3) once it’s
certified, Congress has 60 days to “review” it before DADT is repealed.
Byrd provides the 16th vote for repeal on the Senate Armed Services
Committee, but under this scenario the ban won’t be eliminated until
sometime in early 2011."

Sen. Ben Nelson will announce that he is voting YES on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal compromise, reports Open Left.

Only last week, the conservative Nebraska Democrat announced he would not vote for repeal before the Pentagon finished its year-long review. "Nelson’s support brings the total number of votes in the Senate Armed
Services Committee to 15," reports the Wonk Room. "Enough to attach the delayed-implementation amendment (offered by Lieberman (I-CT)) to the Defense Authorization measure on Thursday. When
the amendment passes in committee, it would require 60 votes to strip
repeal from the bill during the floor debate."

"The White House and Gates seemingly didn’t want a vote this
year. Activists wouldn’t let up. Murphy, Levin, and Lieberman put in a
heroic effort to salvage repeal. And in my estimation, when Levin was
one vote away in the Senate committee, White House officials realized
the repeal train was leaving without them and not hopping aboard was a
no-win situation. If it passed, they would get no credit; if it failed
by one vote, activists would castigate them for withholding support.
This compromise could still fail, and make no mistake, the deal was
brokered by the White House, which then treated it as the redheaded
stepchild it never wanted in the first place. But the outcome — win or
lose — now has the administration's fingerprints on it, even though its
refrain since Monday morning has been that Congress was forcing its
hand."

Politico reports the Speaker Pelosi, Levin, Lieberman and Rep. Patrick Murphy "forced" the White House to get involved at the 11th hour. "'They got the message, I think, actually really from Pelosi that
[Congress was] going to try to do this with or without the White House.
... They could be part of it or not be part of it,' said Richard
Socarides, liaison to the gay community under President Bill Clinton. 'She figured if Congress tried to get something done and failed, the
White House would be blamed. If it tried to get something done and
succeeded, and they stood on the sidelines, they’d look like jerks, and
it would sort of make the president look bad. It was her leadership and
her willingness to be out in front on this at the end that forced their
hand.'"